C3.18 The colours of transition metal compounds
All compounds of transition metals are coloured. Some examples are:
copper sulphate - blue, iron
III oxide - brown, cobalt chloride - pink.
C3.19 Transition metals as catalysts
| Transition metal or compound | Catalyst use |
| manganese (IV) oxide | decomposing hydrogen peroxide |
| platinum | catalytic converter in car exhaust |
| nickel | making margarine from vegetable oil and hydrogen |
| vanadium (V) oxide | making sulphuric acid |
| platinum with rhodium | making nitric acid |
| iron | making ammonia |
C3.20 Uses and properties of titanium, iron and copper
Metal |
Use |
Property |
| iron | Bridge Construction | High Strength |
| iron | permanent magnets
|
Magnetic
|
| copper | water pipes | does not react with water |
| copper | Electrical wires | Good conductor of electricity |
| titanium | propeller shafts on ships, hip joints | does not react with water |
| titanium | aircraft engines | high strength, low density, high mp |